Fundraiser for families of PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough killed in A66 wrong-way crash passes £1million

A FUNDRAISER launched for the families of the two police officers killed in the horror A66 crash has now raised more than £1million. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, lost their lives alongside five “joyriders” who smashed their Volkswagen Passat into a cop car while driving in the wrong direction. PC Matthew Blades, 37, was one of two officers killed in the horror A66 crash on Saturday Credit: Enterprise PC Tom Clough, 38, also lost his life and a fundraiser for both officers’ families has now reached £1million Credit: NCJMedia The five young men, who also died, were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18. The fundraiser, launched by Cleveland Police, said the two police officers “paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty“. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! It read: “PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough were both dedicated and committed Police Officers who left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public. “They did not return home to their families. They leave behind heartbroken loved ones who will struggle to come to terms with the loss of their loved one.” Both officers were killed after five teens smashed into their car while travelling in the wrong direction Credit: PA Floral tributes have been laid at Cleveland Police HQ for the two dead officers Credit: PA The force said the two officers made the ‘ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty’ Credit: NNP It comes after: Cops halted their chase of the five joyriders just 10 seconds before horror collision One teenager in the crash was revealed to be awaiting trial for racially abusing and assaulting officers The government orders TikTok and other social media firms to crack down on “idiotic” joyriding trend Heartbroken families of the two cops who died paid moving tributes Cops later confirmed they had arrested 12 people in connection to the crash Masked youths set off flares and released balloons in memory of one of the joyriders The force added they are “supporting and will continue to support” their families at this “unfathomable moment”. Launched on Sunday, the appeal has now raised more than £1million from over 37,000 donations. Most read in The Sun Previous convictions of four occupants Cole Worthy Use threatening abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on 27 October 2024 and pleaded guilty Failing to surrender to custody on 14 May 2025 and pleaded guilty Common assault of a police officer on 27 April 2025 and pleaded guilty Driving without a licence on 7 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Using a vehicle without insurance on 7 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Driving without reasonable consideration on 7 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Driving using a mobile phone on 7 June 2026b and pleaded guilty Jakub Matusiak Using a vehicle without insurance on 22 March 2026 and pleaded guilty Driving without a licence on 22 March 2026 and pleaded guilty Makai Saddington Possession of a controlled class C drug on 31 May 2025 and pleaded guilty Possession of a knife in a public place on 31 May 2025 and pleaded guilty 11 October 2025 three offences for assaulting a police officer and pleaded guilty Assaulted a police officer on 9 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress on 9 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Theo Rae 12 shoplifting offences between 21 October 2023 and 4 May 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offences Three thefts from motor vehicle offences between 31 January 2024 and 25 September 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offences One theft of vehicle on 13 April 2024 and pleaded guilty Possession of cannabis on 22 April 2024 and pleaded guilty Aggravated vehicle taking on 16 May 2024 and pleaded guilty Aggravated vehicle taking 2 January 2025 and pleaded guilty Conviction of an offence while a youth rehabilitation order is in force on 26 February 2025 and pleaded guilty Assaulted a police officer on 30 April 2026 and pleaded guilty Michael Robert Cahill No convictions The funds will be split between both officers’ families “to assist them in any way as they try to navigate this traumatic time”. PC Blades was a husband and father-of-two who had recently taken on a new role coaching Seaton Carew FC and was preparing to coach the club’s under-sevens team, where his own son plays. His wife paid a heartbreaking tribute to her “beloved husband”, “best friend” and “the most devoted father to our two young boys”. PC Clough, 38, had previously served with the British Transport Police and was also a former soldier. Close friends Theo Rae, 17, (left) and Cole Worthy, 17, both died in the crash Credit: Facebook/Theo Rae Jacob Matusiak, 23, was one of the passengers in the Passat Credit: Facebook/Jakub Hewitt His family described him as their “hero” and a man with a “fantastic” sense of humour who would always jump into action when needed. Meanwhile, masked youths set off flares and released balloons on Monday evening to commemorate one of the joyriders, Jakub Matusiak, as a rowdy mob of around 200 people flocked to a field just yards away from the crash site. Cleveland Police said on Monday that four of those killed in the vehicle – Worthy, Matusiak, Saddington and Rae – which hit the cop car had previous police convictions. Saddington was awaiting trial on charges of racially abusing and assaulting officers. He was accused of assaulting Sergeant Rooker of Cleveland Police and causing racially aggravated alarm or distress to PC Chowdhury. Court records seen by The Sun show Saddington was in court on July 17 over the charges for a first hearing. The force also confirmed that nine men and three women aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of several offences. Some of those arrested over the A66 investigation are suspected of “participating in the activities of an organised crime group” Cleveland Police added. COPS MAKE 12 ARRESTS Twelve people have been arrested for offences, including being involved with organised crime, by detectives investigating the lead-up to the A66 crash which killed two police officers. Two men, aged 24 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon, and are currently in police custody. A woman, aged 30, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is in police custody. A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon, and is in police custody. A man, aged 21, was arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He has been remanded on recall to prison. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public order, and is in police custody. A woman, aged 61, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and has been released on conditional bail. A woman, aged 47, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs, and has been released on conditional bail. A 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs. He has been released on unconditional bail. A man, aged 39, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs, and was released on conditional bail. A 26-year-old man from Redcar has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property. A man, aged 39, who was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill has been released on conditional bail. Cops are continuing to investigate the moments leading up to the fatal smash on Saturday. In the early hours of Saturday, August 22, Cleveland Police say they were called to reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously. The first, believed to be a Volvo XC60 and was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo XC60. Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the force’s automated number plate recognition technology. And just moments before the horrifying fatal smash, officers had been chasing the car in a highspeed pursuit for seven minutes through residential streets. Cops called off the pursuit when the Passat went on to the A66 because it had begun travelling the wrong way down the road. But just ten seconds later, the car slammed into a different marked police vehicle travelling correctly on the A66. Makai Saddington, 18, also died Michael Cahill, 23, who had no convictions, died in the crash which also killed two police officers Credit: Facebook/Michael Ray Cleveland Police added there is no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning has taken place for the purposes of TikTok. This follows TikTok footage showing Matusiak, driving dangerously in the months leading up to the tragedy. Saddington had also shared clips to social media showing him driving dangerously. It has now emerged that social media giant TikTok is promoting similar videos as “exciting.” AI generated summaries of footage of police chases and dangerous driving described the scenes as “thrilling”, the Telegraph reports. Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, said the investigation was “fast moving and complex” and has “significant links to serious and organised criminal activity”. “The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect,” he continued. “We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice. “Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime. “Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy. “Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the upmost professionalism. “I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family.” TikTok has said its policies strictly prohibit content that could cause significant physical harm, including dangerous driving, and that it actively removes any videos and accounts that break its rules. Comment now